The community gardens program offers Montgomery County residents the opportunity to use public space and water to garden an individual plot(s) at low cost. Join over 600 gardeners, who garden plots in one of our locations, located all over Montgomery County. As the program grows and neighbors come together, Montgomery Parks will respond by increasing community garden spaces as we are able.

Our community gardeners grow much more than vegetables and flowers. In partnership with Parks, we make positive environmental, economic, and aesthetic impacts on daily lives. Join us and transform strangers into friends and neighborhoods into communities.

Information

Price

The price of each garden plot is based on size. You will find the plot sizes on the application form. For 2017 the plot prices are as follows:

200 sq ft: $45

300 sq ft: $55

400 sq ft: $65

625 sq ft: $85

Gardening Table: $35

Water

All gardens have water available on site. Most gardens have water tanks called cisterns. The gardeners work together to fill the cisterns with water the nearby WSSC fire hydrants. The gardeners use water meters that Parks rents from WSSC. The cost of water is included in the rental fee. Water is available from early April until October each year.

Fencing

All gardens are enclosed with deer fencing. The fencing ranges from 7 to 10 feet in height. Some gardens also have underground fencing to deter burrowing animals. Unfortunately, it is not possible to exclude all animal pests from the gardens. Most gardens have gates with combination locks, and only people with plots are given the combinations. When you rent a plot, you will receive a permit for your garden plot as well as the combination for the garden gate/s. Please add parkpermits@montgomeryparks.org to your contact list to ensure delivery. There is one combination for all of the locks at each garden.

Expectations of Gardeners

In addition to paying the rental fee for an individual plot, gardeners are joining a community of gardeners and are expected to join the listserv for their garden. As part of that Community, gardeners are expected to observe the rules governing the garden and be active participants in the community. They will participate in community work days and keep the communal areas of the garden weeded and chipped. Gardeners also perform a variety of community garden maintenance tasks as directed by the Parks Volunteer Garden Liaisons in each garden. Each gardener is expected to contribute eight service hours annually.

Here is a short video about the Montgomery Parks Community Gardens. Check it out!

Reserve a Plot

Plot Renewal Information

New Application Information

New applications for plots will be accepted beginning February 6, 2017 at 7:00 AM for all available plots. No applications will be processed prior to that date.

In order to rent a plot, you must be a resident of Montgomery County and create a FREE ActiveMONTGOMERY Account. To provide gardening opportunities for more people, garden plot rentals will be limited to one-person-one-plot. Each new applicant may rent only one plot. For information on how to create an Active Montgomery, please click on the link below:

To apply, please submit a completed application form online, by mail, in-person, by fax or by e-mail.

The rules for having a plot in Montgomery Parks Community Gardens are found in the Conditions of Use document. These rules are part of the agreement you sign when you rent your plot. Please review them carefully because gardeners are required to know and follow these rules. Failure to follow the rules will result in the loss of the plot and the rental fee. Go to the this link to review the garden rules: 2017 Community Gardens Conditions of Use.

Application Document and Contact Info

Apply Online at ActiveMontgomery.org NOTE: the online option is ONLY for open enrollment and does not apply to historic plot renewal. See online booking instructions below.

All plot holders must agree to the 2017 Community Gardens Conditions of Use. Please note that gardeners must abide by these rules in order to be a Community Gardener in good standing.

Accessibility

The Department of Parks encourages and welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in all Parks programs. Due to various issues with terrain, access to water and/or compost, community gardens may have limited physical access. However, the gardens at Bradley and Parklawn Community Gardens have adaptive garden tables and other features for use. For more information and assistance, contact Pat Lynch, Coordinator of the Community Gardens program at 240-876-7598 or patricia.lynch@montgomeryparks.org.

Conditions of Use

All plot holders must agree to abide by the 2017 Conditions of Use. Failure to follow these rules will result in the loss of the plot and rental fee. Please print a copy for your records.

Waitlist

A waiting list for each garden is created when the garden is full for the season. If you wish to be added to a waiting list for one or more gardens, please send an email to communitygardens@montgomeryparks.org. Include Waiting List and the Garden Name in the Subject Line. You may be added to more than one waiting list if you wish. Include those garden names in the body of your message. Names will be added to the waiting list in the order that email requests are received. You will receive an email confirming your waiting list request within 5 business days. Please be sure to check your spam/junk folder just in case your confirmation is there before requesting another confirmation.

If a plot becomes available during the gardening season, we will contact the first person on that waiting list by email. You will have 48 hours to let us know you are interested in renting the plot. If you don’t respond, we will go to the next person on the list. Be sure to use an email address that you check regularly! Plots become available if people choose to leave the garden for any reason or when the gardener does not comply with the Conditions of Use rules and the plot is taken away.